Bono Touts Capitalism

I am not what you would call a music connoisseur. In fact, while I would describe my choice in music as eclectic… others might say “weird.” I like a diverse range of music and can’t really say that one style stands out above all others because I mainly go with “Oh, that sounds nice,” when choosing what to listen to.

So, I hope that this is not the most backhanded compliment that the band U2 has ever gotten, but I really, really like their music.

When I say “I like their music,” I mean all of it. The really good early stuff, the “we hate our label” mid-years stuff, and the more recent really good-again stuff. (These are all official ways to describe U2’s music development, by the way.)

I also happen to be a big fan of their front man, Bono. I like Bono because he seems to think. I don’t agree with everything he says, but when I listen to him speak, I get the sense that he has actually tried to think through the things that he is saying. I think that’s important… because most people I meet don’t seem to really wonder and try to work out what they believe and why. I believe Bono does, and I respect that.

I also like him because he has practiced what he preaches. The man is a tireless advocate for the poor and dispossessed and for those being treated violently by the evils of our day. He has poured his blood, sweat, and money into trying to make this world a better, more peaceful place, and I believe that should be commended. Where other celebrities simply talk a good game… Bono lives out his conversation for the world to see.

Recently Bono gave a speech at Georgetown University and said something that is both simple, yet at the same time, amazing.

“Aid is just a stopgap… Commerce [and] entrepreneurial capitalism take more people out of poverty than aid. We need Africa to become an economic powerhouse.”

Simple in its truth, but remarkable to hear any celebrity (political or otherwise) advocate for capitalism in today’s day and age when it seems like our society views capitalism as a necessary evil more than a force for good.

The media and the Left have spent so much time painting capitalism as some corporate demon buying political power that our culture has begun to buy believe it. In reality, capitalism is the best tool in humanity’s arsenal by which we can escape poverty and oppression.

I am so glad to hear someone as influential as Bono preaching the truth of capitalism to our best and brightest… we need more of it.

I’d like to leave you with this other Bono quote from his Georgetown speech, because it may well be the most important bit.

“That’s what I’m hoping happens here at Georgetown with you… Because when you truly accept that those children in some far off place in the global village have the same value as you in God’s eyes or even in just your eyes, then your life is forever changed, you see something that you can’t un-see.”

I’m a big fan of this Bono character.

The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by EagleRising.com

About the author

Onan Coca

Onan is the Editor-in-Chief at Liberty Alliance media group. He's also the managing editor at Eaglerising.com, Constitution.com and the managing partner at iPatriot.com. You can read more of his writing at Eagle Rising.
Onan is a graduate of Liberty University (2003) and earned his M.Ed. at Western Governors University in 2012. Onan lives in Atlanta with his wife and their three wonderful children.